Naturally, hoteliers in Bath are concerned about the effect this tax could have on the city’s image – and they’re worried about the administration and costs of collecting it.

Small properties and bed-and-breakfasts in particular could be hit hard – and how would the council collect money from tourists booking via sites such as AirBnB?

Why should tourists have their pockets picked yet again?

It’s difficult enough for our industry trying to lobby for a reduction in VAT – which is unlikely to prove successful because it’s money in the bank – without councils wanting to hit tourism even harder with a ‘tourist tax’.

This proposed scheme will simply devalue the contribution tourism already makes to local services and it will be seen for what it is – just another means of fleecing the tourist.